Sassy Brazilian & The Sweetest Tour 12-29-2014

This week, oh my! This week has been crazy/so good/so much learning. 

  I am so grateful for my companion. Every night we tell each other why we are grateful for one another. It's so crazy how God really does know what each one of us individually need.

  I have been learning SO much from Sister Campelo. Something that I really need to work on is seeing people's potential to change and giving them the resources and little nudges to help them change. I have realized that I struggle with only wanting to love people and help them feel good when we teach them, but I don't necessarily help them reach their goals. 

  That is why Sister Campelo and I are the perfect combination! She is Brazilian and sassy and isn't afraid to tell people what they need to do to change. This transfer is going by way too fast. I am just so grateful I am here and am being blessed with people to teach. 

  This week we had some little miracles! It's really hard on Temple Square to have member present lessons. (Member present just means you teach someone who is learning more about the church and include a member of the church in your lesson to bear their testimony and help you teach certain principles.)

  We had a goal this week of how many member present lessons we wanted to have and we just needed one more. So, we planned on Friday night that we would... somehow.. have one on Saturday even though, we had no idea how it would happen. On Saturday during our time in the Teaching Center (where we teach lessons over the phone) a tour on the square was texted out 999. That just means the people have been waiting for a tour for over 10 minutes and no sisters have responded to take it. So we decided we would call and take the tour and lose some of our teaching center time. It ended up being the sweetest tour in the world.

  It was two parents who had fallen out of the church, but had started coming back (so they were members) but their daughter was with them and she is 9. She wants to be baptized but she needs to have the lessons from the missionaries first. They are from California but they came to Temple Square and thought maybe their daughter could have the first lesson here!

 It was such a miracle because like no one ever just comes to Temple Square to have the missionaries teach them a lesson unless it is scheduled in advance. Because they came, we were able to have a member present and we get to teach Kyra over the phone since they're now back in California.

 I have really learned that when we plan and put God first, he will help us reach our goals. Even if we can't see how he is helping us initially, he is always there. He is so present and so aware of each one of us.

  I hope you all have such a great Christmas. 

  We were so spoiled on Temple Square. Every sister got one of those superrr soft blankets from Costco (I actually already bought one like 2 months ago, it's called a Sherpa Throw, I believe) with a little patch sewed onto it that says Temple Square Mission. I actually have been wanting another blanket so it was perfect! 

  And a ward gave each one of us stockings with loads of candy and hand warmers and mittens. And to top it all off, we had a white Christmas! That was like my dream because we have literally had no snow here up until Christmas day. 

 I love you all so much! Happy New Year!

 All my love,

 Sister Helton

 P.S. Temple Square is the prettiest place on earth when it snows! Here is a pic :)

Christmas and Believing Christ 12-22-2014

This week was the best. Last Tuesday we got to go to the Bierman family's house for our Christmas dinner. They were an incredible family. They made us feel SO at home and they live up this canyon (totally reminded me of driving up to Mission in the winter) in a gorgeous

house tucked into the woods. 

The Bierman Family and the Sistas

Sister Campelo and me

  But yesterday, was definitely the best part of my week. In the morning, we got to take a group of teens for their youth conference on a tour of Temple Square. Basically, I learned that being an EFY counselor would be the funnest summer job in the world. I love how they never want to talk or share their testimonies but when you finalllyyy get them to, it is the most powerful thing in the world. 

  

  So this week we have been working on cleaning out our area book. I was looking at all my Less Actives and there was this one guy who had come onto chat in like September, gave his information to a sister, she was never able to call him, she went home and gave his info. to me and I had never called him. 

So we decided to try him. 

  He answered the phone and we started talking and he just started telling us his entire life story. He said he served a mission 3 years ago and when he came home, his dad died and he just started losing hope and faith. He said he's still really active in church but he just feels like he isn't living up to be the person that God wants him to be. He said it's so hard because he knows the he is his own problem. 

  I didn't really know what to say except that I know that Jesus Christ has made it possible so that no matter how short we feel we are falling, there is always a way for us to return to live with our Father in Heaven. God didn't send us here to be perfect, he sent us here to try. 

  I've been thinking a lot about the book, "Believing Christ." (Thank you Grandma and Grandpa for giving it to me!) I only read the first like 3 chapters but what I read has really stuck with me. Jesus Christ has promised us that if we follow him with our whole heart, we will be blessed and we will be able to live with God and our families forever. When we feel like we cannot overcome things on our own, that is because we need our Savior. When we feel like there's no hope, we are not believing in Christ's promise to us. We are not believing in his power and ability to perfect us and to comfort and sustain us. 

  I am so imperfect at relying on my Savior. I always think I can just figure things out myself and I don't need anyone's help. But that is so not how I should be. Jesus Christ came to the earth so we would never have to be alone. No matter how much we feel like we are failing, we're not because Jesus Christ will always be there to make up the difference. I love him so much. I am so grateful for the Christmas season that we get to celebrate and remember the birth of our Savior.

  Jerrica, is one of my favorite people. She gets taught by one of the Sisters on Temple Square and we've ended up becoming really good friends. A few days ago we were just catching up and she shared her favorite scripture with me. 

  It's John 14:18 it says,

 "I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you."

  It's so short but so powerful. That is exactly how the Savior taught. He will always come to our side when we need him. He will always be there to lift our burdens when we feel like we can't go any further. I know that with all my heart. 

  Love you all so much! I hope you eat loads of rolls for me on Christmas. 

xoxoxo,

Sister Helton

I love Sister Campelo 12-15-2014

My new companion Sister Campelo of Brazil!

Another week, another week. Lots has been happening here! I honestly can't believe I'm in my third transfer already. 

   So first things first, I absolutely LOVE my new companion. It's funny how the first day you are together, you're both kind of not sure about how the other person is and then by the second day it's like you've known each other forever. 

   It was so cool, last night Sister Campelo and I were doing our daily planning and every night we say what were grateful for during the day, what were grateful for about each other and then an awkward/funny moment we had that day. I was just telling her how grateful I am that she is SO bold and that before we were companions I was praying and praying that I would get a comp that wasn't afraid to be bold with people. 

   God is way too good. You know how people say He knows you better than you know yourself? I 100% agree. This transfer is going to be amazing I just know it!

   Last night we had a really good growing experience. We called one of our less-actives and she was a person who Sister Isaksen transferred to me.  I was a little nervous to teach because she has so many struggles and has so many things to overcome. But we called her and then after the lesson we were talking about it and Sister Campelo was like "I know what her problem is! She doesn't understand that she can overcome ALL things through the atonement of Jesus Christ."

   My idea on how to teach her was to just love her and she will, hopefully, through us, be able to feel of the love God has for her. But Sister Campelo was like, "If we love her, we will give her ways to overcome her struggles even if she does not want to hear what we have to say." (Like I said, she is bold and it is SO good for me!) 

   That got me thinking so much about people's potential and how God views each one of us. 

He knows who we can become and he has so much hope for us. 

It is so hard for us as individuals to realize our capacity. That's one of the reasons it is so vital that we tell everyone around us the good that we see in them because it is so hard to see it in ourselves a lot of the time. 

   I hope you all have seen He is The Gift by now! I love that short little vid so much. Look online if you haven't.

   The pictures this week are of Sister Campelo and me (ignore my hair....), a mission wide pic (I'm like in the very back haha) and then the first baptism I've gotten to Skype!! Their names are Renata, Fabiano and Fabiano nino. Like, all our investigators are Brazilian! So.fun. Sister Campelo is teaching me Portuguese haha!

Love you all so much!

-Sister Helton

Mission-wide pic (I'm in the back) 

 Fabiano and Fabiano nino and Renata. The first baptism I've gotten to Skype. So fun!

The Lawrences (my BYU-I Wyoming roommate Bree's fam)

Mom's Note:
 This picture of a group of sister missionaries singing Christmas carols was used in a
photo essay on mormonnewsroom.org. looking at Temple Square at Christmastime.
Just had to share, it is so pretty!

Sister Isaksen transfers to Fresno & baby miracles 12-8-2014

Hi!

   Soooo much has happened this week. 

   I guess I'll just start off with the most embarassing! So this Thursday for Relief Society, we went to the Relief Society Building to hear from Sister Burton, Sister Stephens and Sister Reeves (the actual General Relief Society leaders of the church...I had no idea that's who they were because they all look so much alike I always get confused, so I just thought I'd clear that up for anyone who doesn't know who they are.) 

   ANYWAYS, Sister Isaksen and I talked to Sister Poulsen (our mission president's wife) a few days before Relief Society and she told us we didn't have to do anything to prepare for Relief Society since we were going to the RS building. So, we go to the building Thursday morning and take our seats and are just talking and all of a sudden it gets super quiet and the AP's just look at Sister Isaksen and I. They are like motioning for us to go up to the front and conduct the meeting! 

   We go up and Sister Burton like whispers to us, "What is the opening hymn?" WE HAD NO IDEA and I'm pretty sure both of our faces were just completely blank, I felt like time stopped and I couldn't speak at all. Sister Burton, being so sweet, suggested that we sing "As Sisters in Zion." We just both nodded. hahaha! I am so glad Sister Isaksen is good at taking action and doesn't freak out when things don't go according plans. She just went up and conducted and acted like nothing even happened. She is so good. I will miss her so much. 

   Today we had transfer conference. I found out who my new companion will be!!! Her name is Sister Campelo and she's from Brazil. She's going into her 5th transfer. I can't wait! She seems so sweet. We only talked for like 5 minutes this morning, but I know we'll be really good friends. I'll send a pic next week. 

   We have had some little baby miracles this week. I love when they happen. The first one was with our less-active Stephen. We call him every other week because he's doing really,really well and meets with local missionaries Tuesdays and Thursdays. Anyways, we weren't really sure what to teach him when we called but we just really felt in the last minute like we should go through Christlike attributes in "Preach My Gospel" and invite him to develop one this month.

   When we began talking about Christlike attributes and how we would like him to develop one, he said, "Right before you both called, I was praying and praying to know how I can better serve God and what he wants me to work on." 

  This really strengthened me because sometimes it is hard for me to know if I am following the Spirit, or if it's just me coming up with these things. It was just a really good reassurance that any idea you have to help someone follow our Savior and come closer to God, is always from God. Trusting in God and being willing to follow the promptings you receive from the spirit is so vital. It can be difficult, but trusting in God really is the only way you can do missionary work. 

   Another little miracle was the night after Sister Isaksen was called to Fresno, we had been asking and asking every person we met on the Square for referrals and hadn't gotten one. We had like 30 more minutes left of Square time and ended up talking to this guy and his girlfriend. The guy was from FRESNO CALI and wouldn't you know it, referred his aunt who isn't a member to us without us even asking. Sister Isaksen said something that I really loved she said,

   "Things don't always work out the way you planned, but when you show God that you are willing to work and to do the things he has asked you to do, he will bless you." It was also just a cool little reassurance for her to know that Fresno is where God wants to her be right now. 

A little mission genealogy:
This is me with my "Mom"
 (because she trained me) Sister Isaksen
with her "Mom" and my "Grandma"
(because she trained my trainer) Sister Jones

   There have been a few other little things that have really been incredible this week. One of them is that I realized, I didn't fully understand why I personally need a living, modern day prophet. Of course I know that we need one to lead and guide Jesus Christ's church because throughout all time, that is how his church has been lead, but I just kept thinking and thinking, why do I, Carly, need a prophet? 

   In our Zone Training meeting, it was focused on being taught by the Spirit. I'm obsessed with personal study time on the mission. It is such a blessing. I 100% know that when we have questions, if we take the time to study them out and are really searching for answers, God will direct us to know where and how to find those answers. I used to be scared to have questions because I didn't want to receive an answer that would diminish my faith. I really have come to learn though that it is when we have questions, that our faith is strengthened. When we have questions, that is when we are able to see God working in our lives and that is how we feel his love. He will answer our questions I just know it. Maybe not in the time frame we want, but he really will. 

Love you all so much!

-Sister Helton

On the Utah State Capitol steps

I love Sister Ye. She is one of my favorite missionaries.

Thanksgiving and gratitude 12-1-2014

Hi! 

 Thanksgiving was definitely the highlight of our week. We went to the Grave family's home. It was just Catheryn, Aaron and their 2 kids. It was the sweetest Thanksgiving I've ever had. They are some of the most inspiring people I've ever met. They made everything so nice for us. Everything was dairy-free (I felt so bad, but they said it was no problem) and they bought this Norwegian drink called Glug and these Norwegian cookies for Sister Isaksen so she would feel more at home. Both of their kids are special needs and are just the sweetest little spirits. We had the best day and they sent us home with tons of leftovers so we haven't had to cook these past 3 days. :)

   So many fun changes are happening on Temple Square for the Christmas season, I love it SO much! All of the paintings of Jesus Christ's ministry in the North Visitor Center have been changed and now they're all pictures from the Nativity! On Friday night the lights came on so Temple Square has been packed with people these last 3 nights. It has been so fun. We've been telling everyone about the video "He is the Gift." (you can find it online) I hope you all have gotten a chance to see it! It's so short but so powerful. 

   Yesterday, I got to go speak in a ward for the first time! My topic was "The Importance of Family at Christmas." Probably the meanest topic to give a missionary. haha. It was really fun though. We went with 2 other sisters, Sister Nioguerra and Sister Olivera from Brazil. 

  I have just been thinking so much lately about our Savior and how he literally has made every single thing possible. He is the hope that each one of us have. This week, Sister Isaksen and I have been focusing on chapter 6 of Preach My Gospel, Christlike Attributes.    

 

This morning in my personal studies I was reading about Virtue (because it's one of Christ's attributes I feel like I don't understand fully) and I absolutely loved what it said in 2 Peter 1:3-8. Verse 8 is my favorite, it says,

 "For if these things be in you, and abound, they make you that ye shall neither be barren nor unfruitful in the knowledge of our Lord Jesus Christ." 

  Basically, if we are able to understand, apply, and eventually acquire Christ's attributes, that is how we will come to know him fully. Christ was our perfect example in everything. I really do know that as we turn to Christ for strength, his unfailing, perfect example with lead us to everything that is good. 

  I love you all so much! I'm grateful for each one of you.

Love,

Sister Helton

Brother Christensen's Steps 11-24-2014

Almost. done. with. my. second. transfer. SO CRAZY. I don't understand how missionary time works. It's like the days are really long but the weeks go by so fast! 

 Anyway, this week has been so great. On Wednesday we got to go to the showing of "Savior of the World." It's a musical that depicts Christ's  birth, ministry and resurrection that is shown at the Conference Center. We got to go to an early showing and it was amazing. The 1st Presidency and Quorum of the 12 approve the performance and edit the script before the production starts,  so it really is incredible. If any of you are in SLC from now until Jan. 3rd, you'll definitely have to see it! Shows are Tuesday-Saturday.

 Then on Thursday we had such a treat in Relief Society, Clayton M. Christensen and his wife spoke to us. (I don't know if I've explained our Relief Society to you, but it's all 160 sisters together in one the theaters on the Square. We have it on Thursday mornings instead of having it on Sunday.) I was SO nervous, too, because I was conducting Relief Society that day...and I was so scared I would pronounce his name wrong or mess up on the announcements, but everything ended up fine. 
 His talk was so amazing. He literally helped us know how to help each one of our investigators. He told us a story about one of his friends who had questions about the church and so Brother Christensen asked him to write down any question he has ever had regarding religion, life or just any question he has felt like religion today has never fully answered. 
 He then had the friend over to his house to meet with missionaries. At the end of the lesson, they had only addressed like 2 of his questions, and so Brother Christensen asked him to read his next 2 questions aloud. They were, "Why is God so obsessed with Baptism?" and "Does your church perform infant baptism?" 
 Brother Christensen said he truly believes that what he said next was inspiration given to him by our Father in Heaven. He asked his friend to read Mosiah 18 (about baptism) and Moroni 8 (infant baptism). Then he asked his friend to follow this 7-step process as he reads the chapters:

1. First, kneel down and pray aloud. Tell God your question/problem and ask him for help and guidance.

2. Sit in a chair and read the chapter assigned.

3. Do not write your opinion on the matter. Based on the doctrine you just read, in your own words, write 1-2 paragraphs summarizing what you read and the conclusion you have drawn.

4. Kneel down and tell God the answers you have recevied and ask him whether or not it is true.

5. Re-read the chapter

6. Revise the 2 paragraphs you wrote and finalize the conclusion you've reached.

7. Kneel down and pray and ask God again whether or not the doctrine is true.

 Brother Christensen said the door to getting into the Book of Mormon is through questions. 

 I just have been thinking about this process so much and how if I would do this just once a week in my personal study, how much greater my testimony of the truthfulness of the Book of Mormon would be. I'm 100% convinced that if I would take the time to do this, the Book of Mormon would become a part of me. 
 I really do know that when we show God we are willing to take the time to study his words, he will enlighten our minds. Things that have not been clear in the past will become clear. I'm committing myself to you to do this so you can follow up with me. haha.

  I love this week. I love being on a mission. I love my companion. I love all of you! Here are some pics of Temple Square being fun. The first one is when we announced after Music and the Spoken Word, and the other...is of us being "pretty little liars." We look so stupid but still, I thought you might enjoy it:) I don't know why people always think I look like Hannah! Anyways love you all!

-Sister Helton

Tender Mercy of the Lord 11-17-2014

It's weird. I feel like I literally emailed home 2 days ago...this week has flown! 

  So, I was thinking about what I wanted to email about this week and I decided on 3 things: 1 miracle, 1 hilarious phone call, 1 new favorite scripture and a thought to go with it. 

  I'll start with the miracle.

  Friday of last week I went on exchanges with our District leader Sister Nakamatsu. She's from Japan and literally the sweetest! Anyways, we were in the South Visitor Center and Sister Nakamatsu was like, "Let's go up and talk to people at the Christus." Normally, I don't really talk to people at the Christus just because people are always praying and meditating and stuff up there and I feel bad interrupting them if they are having a really spiritual experience, BUT I learned that I definitely should not think like that. 

  So Sister N and I walked up to the Christus and started talking to these 3 girls for like 10 minutes. They were super sweet, we gave them Book of Mormon cards, and started walking away when Sister N turned around super fast and was like, "let's talk to that guy."     He was sitting by himself and was looking at his Ipad and so I was a little hesitant. But Sister N went up and asked him what he was reading and he said, "I'm finishing the Book of Mormon for the first time, I'm on Moroni chapter 4." 

  I instantly got so excited because I had just read that exact chapter that morning! 

  For some reason, though, I said, "Oh my gosh, didn't you love Ether chapter 12?!" Now that I think back on it, that was so random of me to say...but when I said it, his face completely changed. 

  He said that he had read that chapter the day before and it was the most powerful chapter to him personally in the Book of Mormon. He ended up telling us his whole life story and how he joined the church one year ago and decided to come to Temple Square for his year anniversary as a member. 

  He said things have not been easy lately and he said it was a tender mercy from the Lord that of all the chapters in the Book of Mormon, we asked him about Ether 12. That was the first time I cried in front of someone on the Square. It just never ceases to amaze me at how incredibly aware God is of each one of us. He knows exactly what we need, and he sends us people to meet those needs.

  Now, the hilarious phone call. Hahahaha. I really hope this is as funny to you as it was to Sister Isaksen and I. So, we have this investigator named Larry that we usually call every week but we hadn't called him for like 2 weeks because he's been busy and is meeting with local missionaries anyways. But anyway, Sister Isaksen called him on Tuesday (when she was on exchanges so I wasn't with her) and then told me that Larry had set a baptism date!!! Except he couldn't remember what day it was..haha. Saturday we decided to call him and just make sure he was planning on going to church the next day and he answers the phone and before we can say anything he goes, "I'm sorry Sisters, it didn't happen today. We are just running a little bit behind schedule, but don't worry, don't worry, it will happen." We were like, "uhh...wait what didn't happen today?" And Larry was like, "I guess I was getting baptized today!" He had no idea. hahahaha. Ok now that I type it out, it's not as funny, but it like made our week.

  OK, now my new favorite scripture, it's 2 Nephi 22:2-3. 

  It says, "Behold, God is my salvation; I will trust, and not be afraid; for the Lord Jehovah is my strength and my song; he has also become my salvation. Therefore, with joy shall ye draw water out of the wells of salvation." 

  I love this scripture soooo much. Christ refers to himself as the living water and so I love that analogy of with joy, drawing water out of the wells of salvation. It is only through our Savior that we receive salvation. When we feel empty and like we don't have any more strength to move foward, that is OK. He will fill us up when we are empty if we will turn to him. He will be the living water that we will joyfully draw from when we need strength.

I love you all so much! I hope you have such a great week!

Love,

Sister Helton

Henrik & "Be Where Your Feet Are" 11-10-2014

Hi!

Ok, this week FLEW by. 
Everything is so great here. We have been busy, busy, busy. It's weird because this is supposed to be the slow season, but literally we have not had time to eat lunch these past 4 days. 
I don't have very much time to write. (We have a Zone Activity in like 30 min and we searched all over Fred Meyer to find balloons for it because we said we'd bring some so that wasted like all our email time today BUT we found some!) 

Anyway, highlight of the week would definitely be meeting with Henrik for the last time (since he is leaving). He's driven up to Salt Lake 4 times over the past 3 weeks and its been  so awesome to actually teach someone more than once face-to-face. 
He's been praying a lot the last week but still didn't know whether or not God was there. He said he was reading in Jacob in the Book of Mormon in chapter 5 about the parable of the Olive Tree and got so frustrated and confused and closed his Book of Mormon and said in his head, "This is so stupid, I'll just meet with Sister Isaksen and Helton tomorrow for the last time and go home and forget everything we've talked about." 
So right in the moment he shut his Book of Mormon, we sent him our daily text (we send it out to all our investigators) and that day I had been reading in 3 Nephi, in the Isaiah chapters, and Sister Isaksen and I were discussing them and we loved verse 7-8 in Chapter 22.
It says:

7 For a small moment have I forsaken thee, but with great mercies will I gather thee.8 In a little wrath I hid my face from thee for a moment, but with everlasting kindness will I have mercy on thee, saith the Lord thy Redeemer.

So I sent that one! He said literally when he closed his Book of Mormon he got that text. He said in that moment (he 100% does not believe that things are signs from God, he is insistent things are just coincidence) he knew that was God speaking to him. 
It just never ceases to amaze me how aware God is of each individual person. 
We asked Henrik to say the prayer at the end of our lesson and to just ask God if He was there and if He loved him. The spirit was so strong. It was the sweetest thing. 
In his prayer, he just said "God, do you love me? (pause for like 20 seconds) ...I'm pretty confident you do" and then he just said everything he is grateful for. 

I truly know that God puts people in our paths for a reason. 
I just love it here so much. I know I say that every email, but I really do. 

My quote of the transfer is "Be where your feet are." It has helped me a lot on days that I miss home a little bit. I am so grateful to be where I am. 
Also Everyone: you must come see the lights on Temple Square! They all turn on Nov. 28th but there's already a few that go on every night. 

Love you all so much! Thank you for your love and support.


-Sister Helton

Happiest Day of My Mission (so far) 11-3-2014

I got a new P-day since I'm now in my 2nd transfer. 
So crazy I've been on a mission for over 2 months!! 

My P-day is now Monday for the next 6 weeks.

I have SO much to tell you! 

(So sorry if this email is all over the place. I'll start with last Saturday because I can't really remember before.)

Briggs and Becca came to Temple Square! I love them so much. We got to go to lunch at Brio, this super delish Italian place Becca's brother works at. I got a burger..but it was a fancy Italian burger so I told myself it was healthy. So,  that was definitely the highlight of my weekend. Seriously, I am way too blessed to be serving here. Temple Square is amazing.

Last Monday was probably the happiest day of my mission. It was 10:30 in the morning. Sister Isaksen and I were heading to the Square when we got a text. It was from this lady named Syndie. 

(A little background on Syndie. She called into mormon.org about a month ago looking simply for financial help. Sister Isaksen answered the phone and ended up talking to her for like a half hour. We got her number and set up a return appointment for the next day. When we called, she just thanked Sister Isaksen so much for answering the phone and talking to her. She said she woke up this morning feeling like 500 lbs. had been lifted off her. So we taught her the first lesson, sent her local missionaries and called her one more time a few days later. We were so excited for her because the gospel was literally exactly what she needed. She was just soaking up everything we were teaching her. But, after the second lesson, we called and called her but she never picked up the phone. Two weeks ago we called her and left a voicemail to tell her we wouldn't be calling her anymore, but if she ever needed anything, to call us. We were so confused because we really thought she wanted to learn more, but we just kind of let it go.) 

So, back to last Monday. Syndie texts us and tells us SHE GOT BAPTIZED!! We literally like scream-cried in the middle of the crosswalk! haha 

The story gets cooler. Apparently at her baptism she got up and told her story about how she came to know about the church and she said it was because she called into mormon.org and talked to "Rebecca and Carly." When she was telling her story, Sister Maladiri (a sister from Temple Square serving outbound) was at the baptism and had talked to Syndie a few times and thought in her head, "that has to be some Temple Square sisters"  because we are who answer the phone for mormon.org. 

So when Syndie texted us on Monday she said, "Sister Maladiri, a sister who is serving her mission in Salt Lake City, is going to try to find you two and show you a picture of me at my baptism." Sister Isaksen was like, "I know Sister Maladiri!!!!!" So, it was so amazing. We got to see pictures of Syndie's baptism (I'll get them from "Sister Mala" and send them next week) and we finally got to call her on Saturday and talk about everything. 

Syndie was such a miracle! So nothing else I'm really going to talk about can trump that story but the rest of my week has been really good too!

Henrik (I told you about him last week) came to church with us on Sunday!! He's the best. Our sacrament meeting is at 7:30 am. We had a really awesome discussion about Enos chapter 1 and prayer and how God truly can put our soul at rest. 

I love the Book of Mormon. 

Seriously, I do not know why I didn't read it more before my mission. 

We got to have an organ tour! I got to play a few notes on the organ in the Conference Center (again, I'll send pics next week because I didn't have time to load them) and we got to go behind the organ in the Tabernacle and see all the pipes. Once in a life time opportunity. I feel like I'm getting older because I'm actually starting to be really interested in history and genuinely want to learn more about the buildings here...it's weird.

Thank you Mama Isaksen for the birthday package!

Oh, also it was Sister Isaksen's bday on Wednesday! 

We had brownies for breakfast :) 

Sister Isaksen's BFF from Norway surprised her for her birthday!!!

I had another small epiphany I'll just share really fast. My new zone leader Sister Kennoch said something really interesting that got me thinking at our zone meeting on Saturday. She said God doesn't need us. At first in my head I thought .."well, he kind of needs us a little bit..." but as I kept thinking about it, I realized she is so right. We as missionaries are not who convert people. The Spirit does that. Yes, we help people work through their concerns regarding the gospel and teach them the doctrine, but God could do this work on his own if he wanted to. 

The thing is, he doesn't want to do it all on his own. He sent each one of us here to learn how to become more like him. He has given me this incredible opportunity to serve a mission. He has given me this opportunity to meet so many new people everyday. He has given me this opportunity to serve those around me in ways I never would have been able to had he not told me to come on a mission. God is so good. He does so much for me. Every experience we are given in this life, I am convinced, is so we can come to know our God more fully. I love him so much. I love you all so much! 

Thank you for all your sweet emails, they really do make my day.

Love,

Sister Helton

P.S. Halloween rocked also. (Pics below)

The Square closed at 5pm and we got to go to the Temple as a whole mission.                                     best.halloween.evs.

Me+Sister Sughroue 
(She knows Cassie Campos!! 

She said she's her second mom, CRAZY. We were in the MTC together. 
Love her tons)

I love being a missionary. 10-23-2014

I love being a missionary. 

Today is literally the best P-day ever. This morning we only had time on the Square from 11-12, so in my head I was like "Eh, probably not enough time to find a new investigator" then I heard this other voice in my head say, "An hour is definitely enough time," so then I was like, "You're right." So, I was just having this little internal conversation with myself while we were walking. haha. 

Anyway, every time before we go out on the Square, we plan for 3 places we want to go and then pray about it. For this one hour we were going to the Reflection Pool, the Conference Center, and the Assembly Hall. 

We were almost to the Reflection Pool when I see this guy out of the corner of my eye. To Sister Isaksen, I said, "I know that guy from somewhere..." and then we remembered! Two weeks ago we were at the front desk in the South Visitor Center on a Sunday morning and that guy, his two friends, and his aunt and uncle (who aren't really his aunt and uncle, they're related in a really confusing way but he calls them his aunt and uncle) walked in the front door. We talked to them for 15 minutes, but I mostly talked to the guy. I think that's the reason I recognized him, but his name's Henrik and he's from Sweden. 

We were talking to him, his friends and his aunt and uncle (who are Mormon but none of the guys were) and Sister Bomgren (from Sweden) walks by and ended up taking all of them on a really short 20-minute tour! 

So, back to the story: We were at the Reflection Pool and we see him. He had headphones in, so I was a little hesitant to go talk to him, but Sister Isaksen was like "let's go," so we did.

He told us how he ended up staying in Utah a little longer than planned because he's going to a  family reunion his aunt and uncle invited him to go to this weekend. 

He's meeting back up with his friends next week. He didn't have anything to do today so his aunt and uncle told him to just go downtown! He said he actually wanted to see more of Temple Square because the tour was short the first time. He asked us when he could schedule another tour because he said his friends weren't really interested, but he was a little. 

Sister Isaksen said, "We can just take you on one right now!" He said OK and we ended up taking him to the Scriptures and Revelation exhibit because he'd already seen the Assembly Hall, Tabernacle, and Christus - which are like the main sights to see. 

We taught him the Restoration. He had SO many amazing questions. He asked how can you really know that Joseph Smith was a prophet since he was only 14 years old? That's like my all time favorite question because the answer is so simple: Read the Book of Mormon. 

He said he is so scared to read it because if he does and he finds out it is true, it will change everything. 

The spirit was so strong. I can't even remember everything we talked about (mostly because half the convo was in Swedish) but it was seriously a miracle. Like of all the places we could have picked to go for our one small hour on the Square, of all the times he could have been passing through Temple Square (he wasn't even planning on walking through, that's a longer story, but it was basically because of some homeless man he was trying to avoid that he ended up walking through the Square), God put him in our path. 

He is seriously so amazing. He said to us at the very end of our tour that he knows he needs to read the Book of Mormon. I'm so excited to find out how his story ends, I have a feeling it's going to be pretty incredible.

Today is just so good. This week has been awesome too! God is just so present and aware of each one of us. I will never understand how He does it, all I know is He does and that He truly does love and care about every single person on this earth. I am eternally thankful for the hope that my Savior Jesus Christ gives me. Each day we can have the hope of being a little better and coming a little closer to God because of Jesus Christ. The Church is just so true. I'm so thankful I'm on a mission. Love you all and pray for you everyday!

-Sister Helton

PS.  It's interesting how you really can see when people have light in their eyes and when they don't. I love seeing people's eyes change when they feel the spirit. It's like my new favorite thing. 

Missions aren't supposed to be this fun! 10-16-14

This week! Ah! This week has been so good. Lots of learning happening. This week just had a lot of ups and downs, I guess is the best way to put it.

Sister Isaksen and I were talking and she said something that I love so much:

Ether 12:27 (obviously, you all know this one) but it says if men come unto Christ, he will show unto them their weakness that they may become strong.

 (And if men come unto me I will show unto them their weakness. I give unto men weakness that they may be humble; and my grace is sufficient for all men that humble themselves before me; for if they humble themselves before me, and have faith in me, then will I make weak things become strong unto them. Ether 12;27)

     I had heard this verse, too, a million times but we were talking about it more and thinking about how it says "if men come unto me."
    Sometimes I think to myself, I was a way better person before I came on my mission because I didn't know all the areas I needed to improve on and it would have been so much better to be blissfully ignorant of my inadequacies!
    Not really, but I just love how Sister Isaksen said this. She said, "as we come unto Christ and really try to live our lives in a way He would be proud of, He will make it very clear to us the areas we need to improve upon in our lives."
   If we come unto Him, He will show us what we need to work on. It's only if we are striving to draw closer to Him that we will receive that blessing and that humbling knowledge as to how we need to change our lives and our actions.
    So, even though we struggle, it's God's way of showing us that we are coming closer to Him and becoming better, even if we don't always feel like it. Just a cool little personal epiphany.

   Anyways, this week we have had so many amazing things happen! 
I met this guy named David last Wednesday and he has the coolest story ever. I'll just try to tell it briefly. 
   David is a French chef, he's cooked all over the world. He is superrrr intelligent, too. A year ago he was living somewhere (I don't remember) and he had just decided that he didn't want to be a Jehovah's Witness anymore. He had been a member for 12 years and given conferences all around the U.S. for them and said he studied their religion in-depth and talked himself out of it.   
   So he's praying to find a new church and watching TV and a commercial from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints comes on and gives the number you can call (mormon.org) for a free Book of Mormon. 
   Answer to his prayers? He thought "yes," so he called, talked to a sister here on Temple Square, she sent him a Book Of Mormon, it came, and he read. He liked it. But he didn't think anything more about it and a few months later moved to Arizona - Gilbert/Mesa area and was cooking at a restaurant there. One of the chefs he worked with was Mormon and invited him to the Easter pageant they have at the Temple. 
   He went and started to become really interested in learning more. Thennn a few weeks ago, he decided he wants to move to Salt Lake City to be immersed in Mormon culture (even though there's really not as many Mormons here as you would think) to see if this religion is really what he wants in his life. 
   A week ago Monday he lands in SLC, gets on a bus, comes to Temple Square is thinking in his head, "OK now what?" All of a sudden his phone rings and he looks down, sees it's a 877 number and ignores it. The number calls back right away and he said he noticed it was 877-801 (801 is the area code here) so he answers it and it's Sister Isekia, the sister he talked to 1 YEAR AGO on the phone. 
   She asks him if he ever got the Book of Mormon she sent him!!    
   He says "uh yes, I'm actually in Salt Lake right now on Temple Square" (he had no idea this is where she was) and of course she was like "I'M SERVING ON TEMPLE SQUARE!!" So she runs out and they meet and she's been teaching him everyday and he tells us about the miracles God gives him everyday and he is seriously amazing. 
   Talk about following the spirit and your heart! Such an incredible example to each one of us. He's getting baptized in November. I haven't talked to him since Tuesday but it's just so cool. I love being able to see/experience miracles. God really does give them to us every day if we'll just look for them.

   So... I shook David Archuleta's hand AND made eye contact!! He came and sang/did a Q&A fireside for us on Sunday night. I love serving on Temple Square. Mom, he sang "Glorious" and yes, it was glorious!!! He such a humble person it was really cool to hear him talk about his mission and how it truly changed him.

   Also, the other pics are at a zone activity we had and my district. I feel like missions aren't supposed to be this much fun...
.

Love you all so much!

-Sister Helton

Go see 'Meet the Mormons' & We can find out for ourselves what truth is 10-9-14

Hi!!!

Tons has happened this week but at the same time I feel like P-day was yesterday...it's weird. 

Conference was amazing! I saw so many people that I love so much and it was just exactly what I needed. I haven't gotten to watch all of Conference yet but one of the talks I LOVED was the one by Lynn Robbins called "Which way do you face?" Also President Uchtdorf's talk about testimonies.

Oh, I actually do have news!!! I totally forgot. I've seen Elder David Bednar TWICE this week. On Friday night, Sis Isaksen and I were starting the Joseph Smith Movie like we do every week and in the audience we spy him sitting with his fam. So, after the movie was over we have to stand by the exit doors and say "bye" and "thank you" to everyone for coming. He walked right past me and looked me right in the eyes and said thank you, didn't shake my hand though, but still, we made eye contact which is pretty good. Thennnn on Monday we did a little bit of Explore Day. (If you're a new sister you get 12 hours of exploring around SLC and getting to know the resources we have more fully on Temple Square because there is so much to see!) 
So, we went to the Humanitarian Center to have a tour. We walk in the doors and Elder Bednar is just standing right there chatting with the lady at the front desk! I was like 5 feet away from him but no eye contact this time nor a handshake. It's OK though. I'm convinced I'll see him again and maybe he'll recognize me haha... probs not. We just figured if he had time to shake our hand, he would've ya know?

Oooo another cool thing, I got to watch "Meet the Mormons!" Seriously, everyone go see it.  After it's not theaters, we'll start playing it on Temple Square in the theaters here which is so cool. I just loved it because it was not preachy at all. It was just so inspiring and uplifting. Literally every single person should see it because it just makes you feel good and makes you want to be good.

Something that I've really loved about this week is the new people we are teaching. We are teaching them because they called in to mormon.org. People truly change their lives to join our church and I feel so humbled to have the opportunity to watch them make that change and see it bless them.

Something that I've really been thinking about this week is the idea of truth. It blows my mind to think about that fact that we can find out for ourselves what truth is. We don't have to rely on any person to tell us what it is. We just have to ask God and he'll tell us. It is so simple and I feel like I make it so complicated sometimes.
 I've been focusing on reading the Book of Mormon in my morning studies and I love this scripture, it's 2 Nephi 32:4-5. It says: 

"Wherefore, now after I have spoken these words, if ye cannot understand them it will be because ye ask not, neither do ye knock; wherefore, ye are not brought into the light, but must perish in the dark. For behold, again I say unto you that if ye will enter in by the way, and receive the Holy ghost, it will show unto you all things what ye should do."

I love that soooo much because it is so simple. God wants to tell us all things. He really does. Like why would He not? We're here on earth to come unto Him and follow Christ's example. If we don't understand something, it's not because He hasn't told us or doesn't want to tell us, it's because we're not asking, or we're not acting. I don't know why I always complicate things! The gospel of Jesus Christ is so dang simple. I love it. I'm so happy I'm on a mission. Love you so much!

-Sister Helton